Tennessee Williams' Final Play IN MASKS OUTRAGEOUS & AUSTERE

This weekend, I had a chance to see the first production of Tennessee Williams' last play over at the Culture Project on Bleecker Street.  Williams spent the final four years of his life writing and rewriting (never to his complete satisfaction) this show about a Southern grand dame being held hostage at a mysterious beachfront home, popping pills and drinking Champagne with her gay husband and his young lover.

If the setup sounds somewhat familiar, it is a bit like Tennessee's greatest hits.  However, there was something strikingly modern about the language and the frank discussion of the sexuality of her husband. No hidden secrets and unspoken lies here....Williams lays it all out, going so far as to have the husband and his consort show their affection for each other right in front of Babe.  Written between 1979 and 1983, there is a blithe tone to the play's treatment of homosexuality and sexuality in general.  There is even a little Williams diatribe against "computers" which is surprisingly prescient. 

The show itself was beautifully produced with a surreal and somewhat hi-tech setting.  However, it ran a bit too long and could use some more strong editing.  This could be a very tight 1 1/2 hour show as opposed to a nearly 2 1/2 hour one. Shirley Knight (who was actually in a Tennessee Williams' movie, SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH) did a remarkable job playing Babe but the rest of the cast was a bit uneven.  Yet, overall, it seems like there is a lot of potential in this swan-song of a play.

The White House Gets A Colorful Paint Job For THE NEW YORKER

THE NEW YORKER has created another one of their striking and bold covers for next week's issue. To commemorate President Obama's historic support of marriage equality this week, artist Bob Staake gave the South Portico a rainbow-colored paint job that mimics the colors found in the rainbow pride flag.

There's a nice little quote on THE NEW YORKER site, explaining his work. "I am honored to be doing this cover. It’s a celebratory moment for our country, and that’s what I tried to capture. (I don’t especially like those rainbow colors, but they are what they are—I had to use them.) I wanted to celebrate the bravery of the President’s statement—a statement long overdue—but all the more appreciated in this political year. We are on the right side of history."

Celebrating Obama's Historic Statement On Marriage Equality

President Obama made history yesterday by publicly announcing his support for marriage equality. While there was some grumbling that it took so long and that he has not vowed to make it federal priority, there was also a great deal of joy and excitement that he took to his bully pulpit to take a stand for equal rights for all Americans when it comes to marriage.  The bottom line is that there is no diminishing the historic importance of the President's announcement in support of marriage equality, which remains a highly contentious political issue. There were some comparisons to LBJ's embrace of the civil rights movement (and, famously, its language) when he spoke to Congress in 1964.  

Needless to say, it was a day and night to celebrate.  Some did it offline in New York last night.  While others did it online.  I was delighted to get a link sent to me of a celebratory Tumblr called "When Obama Endorsed Marriage Equality." It's a lively mix of photos and animated GIFs capturing moments of elation, happiness, and sheer joy.  Check it out and celebrate this historic moment before it gets dragged through the mud in the upcoming presidential slog...I mean, campaign. 

MAD MEN Makes Some Musical History

On this week's MAD MEN, the episode ended with Don Draper in his empty living room playing a cut from the "new" Beatles album REVOLVER, the proto-trippy "Tommorow Never Knows".  It was a cool and poignant moment for Don which transitioned into a montage of other characters at their own crossroads. But what was ever cooler is that it was the first use of a Beatles song on a dramatic television show.  Ever.

The Beatles licensing group Apple Corps are notoriously stingy about selling the songs for use in programming on TV and films.  Actually, I remember being told in film school there were two artists whose songs were essentially off-limits: the Beatles and Bruce Springsteen.  And it's not because the cost would be astronomical. It's because both the Beatles and Bruce didn't want to dilute their unique musical brands. While this sort of licensing can make a band enormous amounts of money (hello Journey!), it also can make songs less special.

There's an article in the TIMES this week about the process of getting the Beatles to agree to the MAD MEN use. It was not easy, according to creator Matthew Weiner. And it did cost a reported $250,000.

Zach Walls Is Not Running For Office But He Has Written A Book

In April, I attended the GLAAD Media Awards here in New York where one of the best speeches of the night was given by 21 year old Zach Walls.  In early 2011, Walls shot to YouTube fame when he spoke before the Iowa Judiciary Committee about being raised by two lesbian moms and gave an impassioned defense of his upbringing, summarized in this line: "the sexual orientation of my parents has zero effect on the content of my character." At the GLAAD event, Walls spoke so clearly and passionately that the buzz at our table was wondering when this articulate young man would be running for office.

In an interview over at Queerty today, Walls says he has no plans to run for office right now and is focusing on finishing his college studies in environmental engineering.  But he has not ruled it out and, in fact, could be seen as taking the first major step for any political candidate these days--he has written a memoir.  MY TWO MOMS, out in time for Mother's Day of course, is about growing up with his now semi-famous family.  Each chapter is headed with one word taken from the Boy Scouts oath (thrifty, brave, reverent, etc.).  Now if that isn't a savvy politician in the making!  Let's hope the book, in stores today, becomes Zach's DREAMS FROM MY FATHER...and that we'll see him on the national stage in 2028.

SATURDAY SPECIAL: Foodies Eat Up New York

Two very funny friends of mine, Randy Eisenberg and Sid Karger, have a new webseries which is worth checking out.  It's called FOODIES and makes sport of the way a certain subset of gay urban male in New York City makes food eating a sport.  The first episode follows them as they nosh their way through an hors d'oeuvre plate expending as much energy properly pronouncing the exotic places where their snacks came from as they do actually eating them. (Yes, I've been to THAT cocktail party!) In episode two, they do a hilarious riff on New Yorkers' obsession with of-the-moment restaurants.

There are four episodes in total so check them all out on YouTube....and hopefully there will be more comedy treats to come.

Angela Di Carlo's MAD MEN Spoof Guest Stars Casey Spooner

Last night, I got to attend the premiere of my friend Ange's newest episode of her MAD MEN spoof-serial, THE MAD WORLD OF MISS HATHAWAY.  This one featured a new spin on "Zou Bisou" and a guest starring role for Casey Spooner.

I had a blast and I wrote it up for the NEXUS, Next Magazine's nightlife blog.  Check it out....and if you don't have plans tonight, go and see it live @ The Wild Project. Happy Weekend!

Could Your Cat Be An Amazing Photographer Too?

The Tribeca Film Festival wrapped last week and one of the more talked about shorts was CATCAM.  It's about a German engineer named Juergen Perhold living in the South who has a very adventurous cat named Mr. Lee who would disappear for days at a time.  Curious what his cat was up to, Juergen engineered a little "catcam" that hung around Mr. Lee's neck that recorded 500 photos at different intervals of his cat's many adventures, like finding a snake or crawling through a drain.  

You can view Mr. Lee's photos (like the extremely artful shot above of a garage) on Juergen's website. And if you have a cat who wanders, you can buy a catcam of your own for just $53 dollars! Now you can see how your cat lives when you're not around.  It could seem like spying but, if your cat has as great an eye as Mr. Lee, who knows...your kitty's photos could be worth millions in the art world.

Does Anyone Remember The Original AVENGERS?

I keep seeing headlines and links to THE AVENGERS everywhere, referring to the new Marvel comics movie due out this Friday.  However, whenever I see these references to THE AVENGERS I think of something other than superheroes.  I recall the stylish Diana Rigg and Patrick Macknee wearing his smart black hat.  When I was a kid the British TV show THE AVENGERS was in syndication and always on in the afternoons or the weekends.  I don't really recall what it was about; something regarding spies maybe?  But I will never forget the sexy and stylish opening sequence and the awesome Bond-like theme song.  Oh yes....and Diana Rigg in that black vinyl jumpsuit.  Whoa.  Below is the later opening for show in glorious color which is also pretty cool looking too.

Remembering The Owner Of A Times Square Holdout The Grand Luncheonette

When I moved to NYC, 42nd Street was still pretty gritty and one of my favorite spots along the Deuce between 7th and 8th avenue was the Grand Lucheonette.  It was essentially a hot dog stand squeezed into the lobby entrance of one of the old grindhouses on the block.  It was a classic old New York joint that had been there since the 1940's which was run by a classic old New Yorker, Fred Hakim.

Hakim, age 83, died yesterday and got a lovely obit in the TIMES, recalling his place in the storied block's history as well as his stand against the gentrification which ultimately took his business in 1997 and changed 42nd Street into a corporate playground.  When Fred took ill last week, Jeremiah's Vanishing New York ran a lengthy post with photos (by Richard Estes) and video of the Luncheonette from back in the 90's just before it was closed. The video is especially beautiful with it's grainy quality and the utter lack of tourists!

Hakim said that the closing was ultimately a stroke of great luck as the theatre itself collapsed just a few weeks after his departure due to a combination of demolition work next door and high winds. Anyway, I will always remember him standing in the window and slinging dogs in this quaint relic of long gone era.